suggestions for hospital bag after C Section please?

[MrsKitty]

I've been planning to put together a hospital bag 'gift set' for my friend for a while now, you know, stuff like big pants/maternity pads/moist toilet tissue etc (all the really glamorous stuff ) but she's now having to have a section. Does she still need all that stuff?

She wants to try breastfeeding so I'll pop in a tube of lansinoh, but don't want to go too overboard on the BF stuff incase it makes her feel under pressure IYSWIM?

What other stuff could I add?

• Apologies for overuse of the word 'stuff' - brain not quite working properly yet

After my ELCS 16 weeks ago, I would suggest....

shower gel with a hook on so she doesn't have to bend down in the shower (no bath stuff as she won't be able to have a bath at first)

big pants definitely

Lots of things to do sat down between feeds - books, magazines etc

Chocolates - for the energy obviously

After my ELCS, I needed:

bottle of champagne (fortunately had a private room, so the staff didn't know. My mum secreted the bottle in and out).

big disposable knickers and maternity pads. Size 18 knickers, and I'm a size 10.

magazines and newspapers. In fact, I needed them pre-section, as I had to wait for the emergency ones to be done first.

hand cream, as hospital soap wrecked my hands.

a hospital tv/phone card, to while away the tedium of hospital.

something edible instead of hospital so-called food.

Huge pants..brilliant

Flannels as she will probably itch like crazy when the spinal wears off.

Perhaps an audiobook for the iPod

Cake

Eye patch(no the pirate kind)

She'll need slip on slippers

erm

Ooh and one of those curvey pillows to protect her tum as she feeds the baby. Useful for both bottle and breast feeding I would have thought so no pressure.

And spare covers! I didn't get any for mine and then it got sicked on almost immediately!!

Ditto the hand cream - and will add face cream, something scrummy smelling - and the edible food

I could find you my ELCS packing list thread i think if that helps....

Agree with all those things and maybe also arnica tablets, peppermint tea bags - she'll still need maternity pads but prob not the moist loo roll (oh the glamour)

Oh and definitely really nice shower stuff - DH had got me a Molton Brown travel set to take in and it was sooooo lurverly to use the day after DD arrived

I had a pate/anchovy and goats cheese baguette!

My friend went to a restaurant on the way home for a prawn cocktail and bloody steak

Oh and I also popped to the Clarins counter and told them what I, ahem, usually used and did they have any samples so that I could take some to hospital.....nothing looks better than 'Beauty flash Balm' when you're completely knackered!!

Def agree with massive pants & peppermint tea bags. Choccies & nice 'easy food'...I had terrible 'windy' type pains afterwards & definitely didn't fancy the plums & statsuma's my gran brought for me!!! Peppermint tea really helped.

The suggestions for nice smellies etc too are good, especially ones with hangers.

Lots of magazines for the wait.

Great - thanks for all your suggestions... Any more

Fennel Tea too for milk supply and windyness
Flip Flops for the shower room
Primark t-shirt material PJ bottoms, 2 sizes up.
Face pack
1st series of Glee DVD to watch on lap top-if applicable
Phone credit-if applicable
Nail Polish and remover. Being in hospital is BORING
Sweet Almond Oil, for massaging into hand and feet of self, and for baby massage too.
My friend dyed some muslins for me, so my burp cloths were all funky colours and not the boring white or pastels. I liked that.

Ear Plugs, the wards can be very noisy!

The most comfy trousers she has - your section is sore for ages. V shaped cushion definately plus extra pillows, 'cos the more propped up you are round the clock, the less you need to hoist yourself up and down. And for your first visit after, and if she's breast feeding, as much food as you can fit in a bag. I hadn't eaten much while in labour and then when bf'ing started I could've eaten non stop for 4 days while in hospital. The hospital food, while ok, was just not enough. Thank god there was a tesco opposite the hospital so my visitors could bring in food parcels.

I had some sterile maternity pads (mothercare sell them) which I stuck to the inside of the front of my big knickers. They're really lovely ans thick and kept the wound dry and also cushioned it against knocks and trousers.

How about some breastfeeding Pyjamas? I love my drop fronted PJ tops, they make feeding much easier. Most are maternity cut too so they come up above the waist and don't rub against the wound

Flip flops or any other shoes without backs. It's terrible - nay, impossible to bend down to put your shoes on, much easier to slide your feet in.

Fab- thanks all. The shoe tip is great - thanks Shaz10 - never would have thought of that, and doubt she would either!

Off to the shops now, I think...

1. One of those grab picker upperer things you can get them in boots - I couldn't bend down for a long time

1. Big pants that are cotton, but I couldn't fit any of these on over my bump and couldn't stand anything touching my post c section tummy, so I cut the front elastic off my marks and spencers bikini pants - much more comfy

1. a magicool spray, keeps you cool in the wards

1. A toiletry bag that will hang up in the bathroom

straws! sounds ridiculous, but they were so useful when lying down for first couple of days and drinking water in bed without having to launch your whole body up!

Thanks - the grabby-picker-uppy is genius, indigobarbie!

And straws - great idea.

Am pleased - my basket is starting to take shape